Turkey Proposes Black Sea Shipping Corridors to Protect Civilian Vessels

Turkey sent a draft memorandum to Russia and Ukraine on September 17, proposing protected shipping corridors in the Black Sea for civilian ships.

The plan covers two routes. One follows the western Black Sea, modeled on the 2022 grain corridor that ran until mid-2023, when Russia withdrew. The second would route Russian-flagged shipping along the southern and eastern edges of the sea, through Turkish and Georgian territorial waters, keeping those ships inside coastal-state protection rather than in open water where both sides have been targeting commercial traffic.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has accepted the proposal. Turkey's foreign ministry said talks with both countries are continuing.

Turkish shipping has taken repeated hits. Ukrainian drone strikes left two ships grounded on Turkey's Black Sea coast in late August. Shortly after, Turkish operators Akkon Lines and Arkas suspended all Russian Black Sea port services and have not resumed. According to Turkish Minute, at least 25 Turkish-owned ships have been attacked since late June. President Erdogan is expected to raise the proposal with Russia's Vladimir Putin in November.